Whiffletree-clip



(No Model.) I

W. W. BURSON.

WHIFFLETREE CLIP.

. No. 408,689. Patented Aug. 13, 1889.

ZIHG'SKS'GQ." 23224 a. in A.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OF ICE.

WILLIAM WORTH BURSON, or CHICAGO, I I LINoIs.

WHlFFLETREE-CLIP.

SPECIFIQATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,689, dated August13, 1889.

Application filed June 6, 1889. Serial No. 313,259. (No model.) 7

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM WORTH BUR- SON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clips andHooks for Whiffietrees and other Purposes, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to clips and hooks for whiflletrees and otherpurposes; and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a clipwhich can be securely fastened upon the end of the wooden part withoutsawing or boring before attaching, and without wedging, riveting, ornailing after the clip is put on the wood; second, to provide a hookwhich will not unhitch until so desired. 1 attain these objects by themechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1shows whiffletree complete, except central draft-clip. Fig. 2 is a sideview of the clip attached to the wood. The dotted lines show the hook inposition to hitch or unhitch the tug. Fig. 3 is an end View of thewhittletree complete. Fig. 4 is a side View of the 'whiffietree end withclip-fastening band B in position. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section ofFig. 4. Fig. 6 is a side view of the clip be fore bending. Fig. 7 showsaremovable clipfastening band.

Similar letters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The whiffletree A, or other wooden piece requiring a clip, may be of anyshape desired, but preferably is made either round or oval and slightlytapered toward the end. The clip B is made to fit the wood and the innerend terminates in points 17 b, the function of which will be explainedhereinafter.

At the rear side of the clip is the finge1-B which is preferably caststraight, as shown in Fig. 6, and after annealing bent upon the hook Cat 0 as shown in Figs. 1. f2, and 4. The body of hook O incloses theclip and is held in position by finger B .clasping the part c of thehook. The projections c c at each end of the part c engaging finger Bhold the hook in its hinged position.

The draft-hook C is conveniently made by an offset where the sides of 0come together and a return end 0 extends backward between the branchingsides of hook O. The safetyspur 0. extends forward from the draft-hook,and when the tug is slack is crosswise of the opening of the cockeye ofthe tug and hence cannot come unhitched. The return end 0 reachesbackward nearly to the whifiletree and the tug cannot be hitched orunhitched without swinging outward beyond the end of the whiffietree,Fig. 2.

At the base of finger B is a projection B B, which limits the outwardswing of hook O to what will enable the tug to be hooked and adds to itssafety from unhooking. The clip Bis cast, as shown in Fig. 6,and afterannealing, when made of malleable iron, the finger B is bent so as tohold hook O, and the points 19 b are bent into the wood of thewhiffietree as it is driven to its place. These points are convenientlydriven into the wood of the whiffletree by placing the fastening-band Bupon the end of the whifi'letree where the points are intended to enterthe wood. The

outer end of band B is cup shape, as shown .in Fig. 5, and when indriving forward the clip the points I) b strike this iron band they areturned into'the wood, Fig. 5. This fastening-band serves the doublepurpose of defleeting the points into the wood and keeping the wood fromsplitting by the action of the wedge-shaped points.

' Instead of having a solid band 13 which remains upon the wood with theclip, the band may be made in halves doweled together and held firmlyupon the wood while the clip is being driven on, and the points I) I)thus made to enter the wood and then removed, Fig. 7. Theflanges l) b ofclip B coact with the point e of hook C to keep the tug from unhitchingwhile in front of the whifiletree. Between the flanges b b the clip isgiven a reentrant curve. (Shown at 17 Fig. 3.) This reentrant curve isfully explained and claimed in my patent 011 whiffletree-clips, datedMarch 19, 1889, No. 399,831, and is referred to here only in thecombination with this form of hook. This clip is adapted to be used uponwhiffletrees, neck-yokes, and other wooden pieces requiring a clip whichwill not come off when properly attached.

It is readily understood that the draft-hook might be cast integral withthe clip and preserve most of the novel features shown in the presentarrangement and construction.

Various changes can be made in the construetion here shown withoutdeparting from the scope of my invention.

I do not claim, broadly, holding a clip upon the wood of the whiflietreeby points bent to press upon the wood after the clip is in place, forthis is a well-known manner of holding the clip in place; but

\Vhat I do claim is- 1. A whifiietree-clip provided with deflectingpoints at its inner end, which are adapted to pass over the wood of thewhifiletree until nearly home, and then to be inclined inward and topierce the wood, whereby it is held securely in position, substantiallyas set forth.

2. A whiffletree-clip provided with a clasping-finger extending outwardfrom one end of said clip, said finger havingalongitudinal extensionsubstantially parallel with the side of said clip when cast, adapted tobe bent about and to hold a draft hook or ring, in

combination with a draft hook or ring, operating substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of a whiffietree-clip provided with the deflectingpoints 1') at its inner end, adapted to pierce the wood of thewhifiietree, and having the hook-elasping finger B with a draft hook orring held by said finger, substantially as specified.

4. The'combination of a whifiietree-clip provided with the deflectingpoints I) at its inner end, and having the hook-elasping finger B andthe stop-flanges B B, with a draft hook or ring, operating substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination of a whifiletree-clip provided at its inner end withthe points I), and a fastening-ring held in close contact with the woodand operating to deflect the points and cause them to enter into thewood, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a whiflietree-clip provided at its inner end withthe points I), and the fastening-ring B operating to deflect points I)and cause them to enter the wood as the clip is driven into place,substantially as specified.

7. The combination of a whiifletree-clip provided with theclasping-finger B to hold the draft hook or ring, and provided with theflanges b b, and interposed re-entrant curve N, with a draft-hook havinga return-point 0 operating to securely hold the tug in working position,substantially as specified.

8. The combination of a whifiietrec-clip provided with theclasping-finger B to hold the draft hook or ring, and a hook providedwith a point 6, extending backward toward the whiffletree, and asafety-spur c extending forward, operating to hold the tug in workingposition, substantially as described.

9. The combination of a whifiletree-clip provided with theclasping-finger B and a draft-hook C held therein, provided with thelugs c 0 operating to prevent the said hook from turning axially in saidelasping-finger, substantially as specified.

10. The combination of a whifiletree-clip provided with the deflectingpoints I), the clasping-finger B and the stop-flanges B B, with adraft-hook held by said clasping-fin ger. and provided with the lugs ccflthe hook 0, having the return-pointc, and safety-spur 0, operatingsubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

\VILLIAM VORTH BURSON.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 408,689, grantedAugust 13, 1 upon the application of William Worth Burson, of Chicago,Illinois, for an impr ment in Whiffletree Clips, errors appear in theprinted specifioation'requiring reotion, as follows: In line 35, page 2,the reference letters B B should read B and the said Letters Patentshould be read with these corrections therein that same may conform tothe record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed, conntersigned, and sealed this 3d day of September, A. D. 1889.

[SEAL] CYRUS BUSSEY,

Assistant Secretary of the Intel Oountersigned:

ROBERT J. FISHER,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

